I wonder what the sports betting odds were on how long it would take Allen Iverson to return to the NBA. “The Answer” made his return to the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia 76ers in a 93-83 loss to Denver, where Iverson was traded to last year from Detroit. Iverson played 38 minutes, going 4-of-11 from the floor for 11 points, while adding six assists and five boards for the 76ers. Quite frankly, this is the best scenario for Iverson, and for the 76ers’ NBA betting odds.

First, Philadelphia fans LOVE Iverson. I mean, the last time they were good, he was the reason for it. They’ll follow that dude through a fire if they have to. Second, Iverson seems to realize that it’s Andre Igoudala’s team, as Iggy had 31 against the 76ers. Now, I have no problem with Iverson playing major minutes….as long as he understands that he’s no longer a superstar and starts jacking up 30 shots a game. Iverson is an excellent complementary piece if he keeps his head together, and you never know: the 76ers could be an NBA betting darkhorse in your sportsbook if Iverson sticks to the script.

Cleveland is finally playing like the sportsbook favorites we allkknew they were, and they played very well in a 111-104 win over Miami on the road, their third straight win away from home. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m wonder if the kids still hang up posters on their wall, because THIS is the epitome of a posterization:

AND THEN…..he goes back to walk over him, Allen Iverson-Tyronn Lue style:

This has no bearing on either team’s online betting odds, but you may look back on this later in the season, and I’m willing to bet you won’t see a better posterization than that. Then, Anderson Varejao (Sideshow Bob) had the nerve to try and talk smack to D-Wade after the play was done. He got a technical foul for his efforts. You know, he’s a talented player, but someone needs to tell Bob to shut up sometimes. Actin’ like you’re worth $10-12 mil a season,  you know what that gets:

My pick for Saturday’s Pacquiao Cotto odds: Miguel will give him a run, but he doesn’t have the patience to hang with Manny, who will frustrate him into making a mistake.

College football betting is my main focus until the NBA season heats up, even though many are dying to make a World Series bet, so here’s my three picks to watch this weekend, with odds from BetOnline.com:

No.13 Penn State vs Michigan - Saturday, October 24, 3:30 PM ET

BetOnline.com odds: Penn State -4.5

The Nittany Lions have lost five straight trips to the “Big House”, and they’re facing a Michigan team that is getting better each and every week. With two road losses by a combined eight points (one in overtime) and coming off an almost-criminal 63-6 destruction of Delaware State, the Wolverines have momentum. With the charges rallying behind Tate Forcier, bet on the home underdogs.

No.1 Florida vs Mississippi State - Saturday, October 24, 7:30 PM ET

BetOnline.com Odds: Florida -22.5

The Gators haven’t come close to being as good as they were last year, and they were gambling with their 16-game winning streak last week with four turnovers in a last-second win over Arkansas. They’ve lost their last two trips to Mississippi State as road underdogs, and their play hasn’t been convincing at all, it’s like Urban Meyer is in a gambling ring or something. Florida may squeeze out another win, but there’s no way in this world they’re covering that spread.

No.3 Texas vs Missouri - Saturday, October 24, 8:00 PM ET

BetOnline.com Odds: Texas -12.5

Colt McCoy says he’s fine after getting beaten up all over the field in last week’s 16-13 win over Oklahoma in the “Red River Rivalry”, and he’s surely better off than Sooners’ counterpart Sam Bradford, who re-injured his shoulder, is now out for the season, and may need to go into employment as a district attorney after turning down last year’s guaranteed NFL money. The Tigers have dropped two straight and are starting to show their stripes. They’re a very young team, which is usually  something to stay away from when you make a bet on sports. However, their defense is quick but small, and they’re starting to wear down. The Longhorns will make it six in a row over the Tigers, easy enough to cover in your sportsbook.

Oklahoma City’s NBA odds are awful in the first place, but then, Henry Abbott came out with an column on ESPN that said Kevin Durant is hurting his team. Okay, here goes:

I’m not going to look at the numbers, because I’m sure they’re all very pretty and Abbott probably did a lot of research, but really? Kevin Durant hurting the Thunder? The kid averaged 25.3 points and 6.5 boards last year, and I’m pretty sure there is no way to quantify the load that Durant had to carry last year. You know: pretty much an entire franchise on the back of a 21-year-old (then 20). Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook are great wingmen, but they couldn’t carry the team like Durant, who is moving up the sportsbook ranks as an MVP candidate.

Let’s not even mention that he makes going to a Thunder game worth the price per head (most of the time, anyway). Durant does more for that franchise than what is shown in the box scores and stats (and he fills those, too). So if you see Henry Abbott out and about, don’t let him make any of your sports picks for you.

This weekend’s big matchup comes the Florida vs LSU odds, and the No.1 Gators are favored by a touchdown at Death Valley. However, they began as 9.5-point favorites in your sportsbook, and it’s all because of the health of one man.

Tim Tebow is a game-time decision due to the concussion he suffered two weeks ago at Kentucky, and the former Heisman winner (as well as one of this year’s favorites) hasn’t participated in any contact drills yet. Contact is basically the most important part of Tebow’s game, and this will change Florida’ place dramatically. However, he has to consider if future as one of the top NFL picks next year, and he shouldn’t do anything stupid.

LSU has won 32 Saturday night games in a row at Death Valley, and they can’t be happy about being an underdog at home. The Tigers are coming off a big win at Georgia, yet they still haven’t played to their expectations. They’ll make a statement and blow the championship race wide open with a win. Regardless, the atmosphere alone in Tiger Stadium will be well worth the price per head.

Perhaps in an effort to increase Orlando’s betting chances, it’s been reported that Rashard Lewis has been suspended for the first 10 games of the season for using DHEA, a multi-functional steroid which has been banned by many leagues, including the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Well, at least we know that NBA players do, in fact, do other drugs outside of smoking weed. The surprise here is that it’s Lewis, who’s never really got in any trouble and would probably be the last person you’d think of if this was an offshore sportsbook prop. It’s supposed to buld muscle, but, um…..have you seen Rashard Lewis lately? Dude’s not exactly Arnold Schwarznegger. He must not be using it right.

We’re betting management of the Magic must be THRILLED over this.

Well, so much for any US Open betting taking place today. Bethpage Black was turned into a virtual lake this morning, allowing the group of Tiger Woods, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington to complete only three holes. Cabrera leads the group at even par, while Woods is +1, and Harrington is struggling at +4. Bethpage is hard enough as it is, but as waterlogged as the course was, they probably should have even went out this morning. I’m betting management at the course didn’t want to see this happen.

So how does this affect the players? Well, the players who went out this morning are at a disadvantage because they had to play through crap, while the players who haven’t teed off could be getting much better conditions. Then again…..it could be even worse tomorrow.  It’s calling for showers for the next four days. I guess it’s a good way for golf betting players to practice up for the British Open.

Chris Bosh has been taking a beating this year. First, Toronto’s NBA odds went right down the tubes early in the season, then Shaq called him “the RuPaul of big men” after Bosh accused him of flopping. Then, this:

Back in New York, ESPN Radio’s Brandon Tierney had Amare Stoudemire on this morning and reiterated remarks about his desire to play for Mike D’Antoni in 2010 while boasting about being better than Chris Bosh. Stoudemire told The Post similar stuff during All-Star Weekend.

When Tierney asked Stoudemire if he’s better than Bosh, the Suns forward said, “Oooh man, are you kidding me? Ask Chris Bosh that question.”

“No doubt about it, I’m better than Chris Bosh”

It’s an interesting statement, as both will be free agents next year and are probably the best big men on the market. Offensively, Bosh is more polished, but Stoudamire is far more explosive and catching up rapidly in terms of technique. The problem with Stoudamire, though, is that he pays less than no attention to defense if he isn’t getting the ball on the offensive end, while Bosh will at least pretend to care. Either player could boost the NBA odds for a new team, and if you could combine them, you’d have the new MVP of the league. Bosh isn’t saying anything in reply, which isn’t surprising as he’s not as arrogant as Stoudamire. But maybe some arrogance is what CB4 needs.

As for tonight’s NBA Finals odds pick, I’m sticking with the Magic in my sportsbook. They’ll be going on
adrenaline, if anything, and the home crowd has to give them some energy. They can’t shoot any worse than they did in L.A…….can they?

Preakness betting players know the importance of a good thoroughbred, and Dallas has that in Nowitzki. The problem is, they don’t have much else, and that will hurt them tonight in Denver.

Mavericks vs Nuggets odds - May 13, 9:00 PM ET

The Mavericks only pulled out Game 4 because of a monster effort from Nowitzki, who had 44 in a 119-117 win at home. However, unless Josh Howard can shake off an ankle injury to score another 21 points and grab 11 boards, it could be a long night. The Nuggets are 10-point favorites at home according to NBA odds, and Denver will come out with fire because of their defensive performance in Game 4. A lot of that had to do with a missing Chris Andersen, who sat out the game with the flu, while Kenyon Martin was a mess due to his mom getting harassed in the stands. Carmelo Anthony’s girlfriend also had some problems and was ejected from the building in Game 4, so the Nuggets will have revenge on their mind. This could be a blowout.

Basketball betting pick: Denver to cover

I know you remember this scene from mid-December. Kevin Garnett lashes into Glen “Big Baby” Davis late in a win over Portland, and then Davis promptly proceeds to cry on the Boston bench. Now, a championship team with great NBA odds shouldn’t have any criers on the team, should they?

Fast forward to Sunday’s Game 4 in Orlando, and everyone in the arena expected the ball to go to Paul Pierce, Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo, but those looking over their NBA odds would have never expected Davis to hit the game-winning shot. But there he was, hitting an 18-foot jumper to give the Celtics a 95-94 win to even the series up at two games apiece. Davis has elevated his game in the postseason in Garnett’s absence, putting up 16.4 points and 6.0 boards, and if he keeps this up, the Celtics’ NBA odds won’t take a big drop without their defensive leader on the court.  That shot may have broken the Magic completely, so it wouldn’t be a bad choice to take the Celtics tomorrow night in your US-friendly sportsbook.